Automobile lock



July 1924u LSUS@ H. MAYER AUTOMOBILE Loox Filed Dec. 27. 1921 2 sheets-Sheen 1 1,500,836 H. MAYER AUTOMOBILE LOCK .may s 1924.

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AUTOMOBILE Application tiled December 27, 1921. Serial N10. 524,961.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Marmi, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, 4have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automobile Locks, of which the followin is a specification, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, form in a part thereof. i

his invention relates generally to automobiles and, more particularly, toa certain new and useful improvement in automobile locks, the principal object of my present invention being to provide relatively simple, conveniently actuable means for efficiently and positively preventing the unauthorized use or theft of the automobile.

With the above and other objects in view, my .present invention resides in the provision of a key-controlled automobile locking` device comprising co-operating clutch elements or members associated with substantially essential parts of the steering-gear or mechanism, in the provision of a locking device of the kind stated so connected with the electrical wiring of the automobile that when the locking device is in so-called unlocked condition, the ignition' wiring of the car is also unlocked or broken, and in the novel features of form, construction, ars

ran ment, and combination of parts hereina 'ter described and afterwards pointed out in the claims. y

In the accompanying drawings Fi ure '1 is an elevational view of an automobi e steering-wheel and its post, the latte? y A fragmentally shown, ofthe type comprising lockousin a reduction-gear between thel Wheel and post,

equipped with a lock embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged `vertical sectional I view of the wheel and its lock, with the lock ,in wheel-locking and ignition-circuit closing position;

Fi re 3 is an or shell;

Figure 41s a fra ental vertical sectional view of a modied orm vof steering-post and wheel equipped with a lock embodying myy invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken ap roximately on the line 55, Figure 4. eferring now more in detail to said drawings, which illustratedpractical em `axially with a bore 10 for accommodating inverted plan vviewof the,

usual steering-rodlocated within whichpost, as is standard, the stem 3 has, in the form of steering gear illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, yoperative connection by means including the pinion or gear 4.

Disposed more or less snugly within shell 1 and pinned or otherwise fixed to stem 3 above gear 4, asbest seen in Figure 2, is an annular plate or disk 5 formin one of the clutch-members of the lock, t e plate 5 being formed on its upper surface with a series of suitably spaced substantially sectorshaped elevationsor teeth.

Also disposed for both' axial and rotary movement within shell 1 and for coopera-, tion with clutch-member 5, is a second clutch-member 6 similarlyformed upon its under -face with a series of suitably spaced substantially sector-shaped` teeth adapted for interlocking engagement withl the teeth of lower clutch-member 5, the upper clutchmelnber 6 being formed preferably integrally with a shank 7 projecting for movement a suitable distance outwardly of. sh ll 1 through an aperture, as at 8, provided or the pur ose in theshell end-wall 9, and whic s ank 7 is formed longitudinally or both the projectin upper end-portion o steering-stem 3 an or purposes shortly appearing, an interposed coiled expansion spring 11.

Formed -also upon the upper clutch-member 6, is a circumferential groove 12 adapted, rwhen, the clutch-members 5 and 6 are in spaced or nonrengaged relation, to accommodate the inner end-portion of a locking-bolt 13 arran ed for sliding movement in va lateral en argement or boss 141formed upon lshell 1, and disposed for rotar movement in shell-enlargement 14, is a ey-actuated barrel 15 provided with an -arm 16 having actuatin Aengagement with bolt 13, as best seen in igure 2. Dis osed also in shell enlargement 14, is a yie ding pin 17 `adapted to project intopa respective 17", 17',

when the bolt 13 s either in clutch locking or unlocking position to releasably retain the bolt 13 against movement.

Feathered or otherwise fixed upon the outwardly or upwardly projecting end-portion of clutch-member shank 7 is a standard steering-wheel 18, and threaded into the upper-end of shank 7 as best seen in Figure 2, is a suitable wheel-retaining cap 19.

Disposed uponvthe inner face ofshell end'- wall 9, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, is a suitable/preferably spring contact-member 20, electrlcally connected with which is one end of a suitable conductor 21 adapted for electrical connection at its otherend with one sidel ofthe engine ignition circuit of the automobile.

, In the modified form of steering-mechanism illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, 1a indicates the lock-housing or shell, which isI also substantially cup-shaped, but, in this instance, has its o-pen end presented upwardand which is provided upon the outer I filce of its end wall 9 with an annular in` ternally threaded extension 2a adapfted for threaded engagement with the fixed rigid steering post 22 of the automobile, the end wall 9a of the shell 1a being also apertured, as at 8a for acconnnodating the upper endportion of post 22, as shown.

Disposed lengthwise for rotary movement in the steeringupost 22, is a steering stem 3a, and disposed more or less snugly within Shell 1a and `feathered or otherwise Xed to stem 3, is the lower clutch-member 5a.

Also disposed for both axial and rotary movement within the shell 1a and for cooperation with lower clutch-member 5a, is the upper clutch member 6a likewise formed preferably integrally with a preferably tubular shank 7a rojecting a suitable distance outwardly of s ell 1a.

Feathered` or otherwiseixed upon the outwardl or upwardly p-rojecting end portion of c utch-member shank 7 is the usual steering wheel 18, and threaded upon the upper end of shank 7a, as best' seen in Fig. 4, is a suitable wheel retaining-cap or nut 19. l

Disposed for working movement within the stem 3a are the usual gas and spark controlling-members or rods 23 and 24, respectively, and suitably located upon the members or rods 23 and 24 are the usual quadrant 25, gas controlling-lever 26, and spark controlling-lever 27. The several 'levers 26 and `27 are surmounted by the usual retaining member or cap 28, and the upper end of shell 1El is suitably closed by a flanged cap 29 centrally apertured to'accommodate preferably both clutch-member shank 7 and the hub of steering-wheel 18a, as shown.

The co-operating clutch members 5A and 6* are formed with communicating annular recesses 30-`31, within which is seated, for purposes shortly appearing, a suitablecoiled expansion spring 11a; and formed also upon the upper clutch-member 6, is a circumferential gro-ove 12a adapted, when the clutch- Inembers 5a and 6al are in spaced or non-engaged relation, to accomodate the inner endportion of a locking-bolt 13a arranged for vsliding movement in a lateral enlargement or boss 14a formed upon shell 1a and key actuablein a manner similar to fthe key actuation of locking bolt 13, a yielding pin 17 being similarly adapted for releasable engagement with the bolt 13a to retain the same against movement. Formed upon shell 1a is a bored extension or casing 32, within which isdisposed for movement a spring-pressed ball-pointed contact-member 20a, electrically connected with which is one end cfa suitable conductor 21 'adapted for electrical connection at its other rend with one side of the engine ignition circuit of the automobile.

In use or operation, we will assume; that the automobile 'is running and that the parts are in operative locked or so-called normal relation, as illustrated in full lines in Fi ure 2. When in such relation, the clutc members 5 and 6, or 5a and 6, as the case may be, are in interlocking engagement, spring 11 Vor 11a being compressed and bolt 13 or 13El being projected with its inner endportion disposed engagin ly above uppery clutch-member 6` or 621 in c utch-locking position. And with the parts in such described. or normal condition, the Lipper clutchmember 6, in one form of the lock, is out of electrical engagement with contact-member 20, and, in the other form of lock here shown, the contact-member 20a' is adapted for idle disposition in the groove 12a, the ignition circuit of the engine in both instances being closed and complete.

The automobile coming to a standstill and it being desired to prevent theft or unauthorized use of the automobile, the lock'- barrel 15 is key actuated in the proper direction, whereupon bolt 13 or 13HL will be slidably actuated out of its described normal position above upper clutch member 6 or 6, and, under the tension of spring 11 or 11, upper clutch member 6 or 6 will be then yieldingly axially moved out of clutch engagement withv lower clutch member 5 or 5", or into the position thereof illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in full lines in Figure 4,. when, as will be evident, any movement of steering wheel 18 or 18 will be without effect upon'the stem 3 or 3a and its connected parts. At the same time, in one form of the lock, the clutch member 6 will engage electrically with contact-mem- .y-ber 20 and short circuit or ground and thereincense .the contact member LA will enga e electrically with the upper clutch mein er 6m, ns seen in Figure i, and similarly short circuit or ground and thereby break the ignition circuit of the engine. @n lock-barrel l5 being now reversely key actuated, locking bolt 13 or 13a willbe projected at its inner end into the clutch groove l2 or 12a and thereby positively and eciently loclr the clutch members 5 and 6 or 5a end 6 out of clutching or interlocking engagement and, at the seine time, maintain or 6loch the ignition circuit of the engine in broken condition,

Authorized use of the automobile being later desired, the lock bolt 13 or 13 is iirst, by suitable operation ot key actuated barrel 15, actuated to carry its inner end out o `the clutch groove 12 or l2, when, under suitable pressure applied upon cap it) or cap 28, as the cese nitty be, the parte ot the lock above the lower clutch member 5 or 5a may be depressed to again throw the lower clutch member ti or 6E' into locking engagement with the lower clutch inember 5 or 5, when locking bolt 13 or 13a is signin projected forwardly into clutch locking pc sition above upper clutch member 6 or tif or into the position thereof iiiustrsted' in Figure 2, the ignition circuit of the engine being at the saine time closed and completed, inthe one instance, by the removal of upper clutch member 6 from electrical engagement with Contact member 20 and, in the other instance, by Contact member 20a moving into clutch groove 12E.

l am aware that minor changes in theiorm, construction, arrangement, und combination of the several parts of my new lock may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without depart ing from the nature and principle of my invention. e

Having thus described my invention, what l cleirn and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with the steering-sgrpost, steering-stem, steering wheel, and ignition circuit ot an automobile, of e shell disposed upon the steering post and having electrical connection with the ignition circuit, and means includingJ a clutch-member dis osed for movement within the shell locging the steering wheel in and out of steering engagement with the stem and for breaking and closing the ignition circuit, seid clutch-member being adapted to metallicelly contact with the shell and thereby short the ignition circuit when in wheel unlocking position. f

2. The combination with the steeringpost, steering stein, steering wheel, and i0- nition circuit of an automobile, oi" a shel disposed upon the steering-post, u contact upon the shell having electrical connection with the ignition circuit, and Ineens including e ciutch-mernber disposed for movement within the shell for locking the steeringwheel in and out ci steering 1 engagement with the stern and for breaking and closing the ignition circuit, said clutch-member being adapted to electrically engage with the contact-member and thereby short the igni tion circuit when in wheel unlocking position..

ln testimony whereof, l lieve signed my name to this specification.

HENRY MYER, 

